Digboi: Assam’s Tinsukia district administration on Monday launched containment measures after Simoluguri village under Kailashpur Gaon Panchayat in Margherita Revenue Circle was identified as the epicentre of an African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak.
The administration has imposed a 30-day ban on pork trade, restricted the movement of pigs and pork products, and announced a culling drive.
Following the National Action Plan for Control, Containment and Eradication of African Swine Fever, the District Commissioner declared a 1-km infected zone around Simoluguri and a 10-km surveillance zone. Biosecurity measures have also been put in place to contain the spread of the disease.
All pork shops and establishments selling pork and pork products across Digboi Co-District have been directed to remain closed for the next 30 days or until further orders.
The administration has also banned the sale, transport and movement of pigs and pork products within and outside the co-district, including to neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh.
A culling operation will be carried out from July 21 to 23. Veterinary teams will oversee the culling, disposal of carcasses, sanitisation and other biosecurity measures in accordance with state and national ASF containment guidelines.
This is the second ASF outbreak reported in Tinsukia district within six weeks. On June 9, Ouguri village under Rupai Siding in Doomdooma Development Block was identified as the epicentre of another outbreak, leading to culling and containment measures.
According to government data, African Swine Fever has been one of India’s major livestock diseases since it was first detected in 2020. The disease can have a fatality rate of up to 100 per cent in infected pigs. In Assam, more than 40,000 pigs have died due to ASF, affecting over 14,000 pig-rearing families across 22 districts.
Officials have urged pig farmers, traders, transporters and residents to follow the restrictions and cooperate with the containment measures.
The order, issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, states that violations will attract action under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).